Man Arrested for Masquerading as a Disabled Person

A Chitungwiza man has been jailed for eight years after posing as a disabled patient to steal from clinics, exposing major security gaps in Zimbabwe’s public health facilities (image source)

A Chitungwiza man convicted of a calculated crime spree targeting health facilities has been sentenced to eight years in prison after masquerading as a disabled patient to gain access to clinics and steal from medical staff, court records and local accounts show.

Thirty-eight-year-old Benjamin Mutambanengwe was found guilty on eight counts of unlawful entry under aggravating circumstances following a full trial before Harare magistrate Blessing Mafukidze. Prosecutors presented evidence that Mutambanengwe repeatedly feigned disability, using crutches and a convincing demeanour to enter doctors’ offices and treatment rooms, where he stole laptops, mobile phones and other valuables from unattended staff and locked spaces.

Clinic staff and visitors who witnessed incidents described a pattern of deception. A nurse at one affected facility said the suspect “would come in very calm, pretend to be in pain, and when staff turned away, he would move quickly into offices.” Another health worker recalled CCTV footage and a colleague’s testimony that the man targeted quieter hours or moments when senior clinicians were called to emergencies. A receptionist at a Chitungwiza clinic said staff initially sympathised with the apparent patient but later felt betrayed and demoralised after multiple thefts were exposed.

Prosecutors relied on a mixture of video evidence, witness statements, and what they argued were admissions obtained during interviews. The case hinged on establishing the pattern of intent: the magistrate concluded that the repeated use of deception, combined with the choice of vulnerable targets and occupied clinical spaces, satisfied the aggravating circumstances that warranted a custodial sentence at the upper end of the statutory range.

Security and healthcare specialists said the sentence highlights wider protection gaps in public clinics. A security consultant specialising in health facilities noted that pockets of low staffing, open office doors during emergencies, and limited on-site asset controls create predictable opportunities for opportunistic thieves. A hospital operations analyst argued that simple measures—such as locking clinicians’ offices, sign-in requirements for patients outside waiting areas, and improved CCTV coverage—could greatly reduce such incidents without diminishing patient care.

Theft from health facilities undermines service delivery, demoralises front-line workers, and diverts scarce resources away from patient care. Ensuring clinic safety through low-cost security protocols and investment in facility management is essential to prevent repeat victimisation and safeguard the fragile public health infrastructure on which many communities depend.